Surface-indicator.



L. FUCHS.

SURFACE INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY a1, 1909.

1,079,169, Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

1 nu; 3a A, /////"7/7// LEON FUCHS, OF DAYTGN, OHIO.

SURFACEJNDIGATOB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

Application filed July 31, 1909. Serial No. 510,665.

lb all whom it may concern. Be it known that I, LEON Focus, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in

the county of Montgomery and State of.

Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Surface Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to measuring instru- 1 ments and particularly to test indicators for measuring the variations of surfaces over a given plane or arc.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure aswell as the means and mode of operation of such instruments whereby they will not only be cheapened in c'onstruction but will be more sensitive and efiicient in use, easily operated, and unlikely to get, out of repair. A further object is to provide such an mst-rument which will be universal in its adjustmen-ts; that is, capable of being operated at any angle and in which the indicator scale 5 will always be maintained in position to be readily observed by the operator.

A further object is to provide improved means for maintaining the instrument in its adjusted position. With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will morefully appear in the specification, the invention; consists of the feature of construction, the: parts and combinations thereof and the:

mode of operation or their equivalents, as

hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a i perspective view of the assembled 1nstrument in operative position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the instrument showing in dotted lines the adjustment of the contact member to diiierent radial positions. Fig.

3is an end elevation of the instrument showing in dotted lines the oscillatory adjust- Like parts are indicated by similar char- 1 actors of reference throughout the several views.

In constructing the device there is employed a circular head or casing comprising two engaging relatively movable parts 1 and 2. The said arts are provided with interengaging rab ts as shown in the sectional View, Fig. 7, the rabbet of one of said parts being provided with a peripheral groove 3 engaged by a plurality of screws 4 in the 1 other portion of the head whereby the portion 2 thereof may be rotated upon the portion 1 and will be maintained in engagement therewith by means of the screws 4- projecting into the peripheral move 3. The cad portion 1 is provided with an integral shank 5 which telescopes within a handle portion 6 and is secured therein by a set screw 7. The handle portion 6 is rectangular in cross section and is adapted to be held in the tool post or other tool holding device of a lathe, planer or shape-r, whereby the contact member hereinafter mentioned may be brought into engagement with the work.

The handle portion 6 is also provided with a transverse opening 8 and a set screw 9 by I which the instrument may be secured upon the supporting stand of a surface gage or secured to other supporting means. The shank 5 is both longitudinally and revolubly adjustable within the portion 6. The head portion 1 is also provided with a wing extension 10 located on the upper side of the head and bearing graduat-ions which may indicate any suitable unit of measure which gradl-iations prefcrabl y represent thousandths of an inch corresponding to the variations of the contact member as it passes over the surface of the work being tested. Within the interior of the head section 1 there is journaled on a stud 11 a gear member 12. The ear member 12 is provided with a shoul ered shaft 13 screw threaded at its outer extremity and formed integral with the gear member 12 or rigidly secured thereto. The shaft 13 is preferably provided with a bore at its inner extremity or within the hub of the gear member 12twithin which the pivotal stud or trunnion 11 projects. The gear member 12 meshes with a gear pinion 14 journaled in suitable bracket 15 and carrying an indicator hand or pointer within the casing member and extends about the casing and engages the gear pinion l4 and tends to move said pinion whereby the indicator hand 16 will be oscillated toward the left in Figs. 4 and 6. The engagement of the hair spring 18 with the gear pinion 14 is preferably by means of a right angled bend at the extremity of the spring which engages a small hole in one of. the teeth of the gear pinion. However, this spring may be otherwise engaged with the pinion and might be otherwise located than as shown in the drawings. For instance, it mightbe in the nature of a coil spring such as used in watch constructions.

Loosely journaled on the shaft 13 and abutting the shoulder 19 thereof is a gear segment 20. Screw threaded on the extremity of the shaft 13 is a knurled clamp ing nut or sleeve 21 and interposed between the nut or sleeve 21 and the gear segment 20 is a washer 22. The construction is such that when the clamping nut or sleeve 21 is loosened the gear segment 20 will be free to rotate upon the shaft 13 and may be oscillated thereon to any desired position in which it will be securely locked by the tightnut or sleeve 21.

ening of. the clampin Within the section 2 o the head or casing there is provided a reciprocatory rack 23 having longitudinal extensions 2425 provided with hearings in suitable guides or supports 26. Connected with the'extension 24 is a helical spring 27 which tends to push the rack member 23 outward. Secured in the casing member 2 by screw threading or moved will be transmitted to the indicator hand 16 and will oscillate said hand 16 over the scale contained on the Wing extension 10 to indicate the degree or extentof-such irregularity. The construction is such as. to multi ly the degree of movement whereby a very sight movement of the contact stem or feeler 29 will produce a considerable movement of'the indicator hand 16 thereby readily showing the variation. The movenovaiee ment is transmitted from the contact stem or feeler 29 to the gear segment 20 by means of the rack23 with which 'the stem 29 is rigidly secured. The gear segment 20 is fixed in its relation to the gear member12 by being impinged between the shoulder 19 of the shaft 13 and the washer 22 thereon by means of the clamping nut or sleeve 21 whereby the oscillatory movement of the gear segment 20 caused by the reciprocatory movement of the rack 23 will move the gear member 12 in unison therewith.

The gear member 12 being intermeshedwvith spring 27. On account of difi'erent posi tions of the surface of the Work to be tested,"

it is desirable to adjust the instrument to different angular positions. The contact stem or feeler 29 is adjustable to difierent radial positions by the rotation of the casing member 2 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2'. By radially adjustable is meant" 1 the capability of bein adjusted to positions corresponding. to di erent radii about a common center. This is accomplished by the gear pinion 14 which is of very much first releasing the compression nut or sleeve 21 and then rotating the casing member 2' until the contact stem or feeler 29- isin the desired positions.

- For the purpose of accurately adjusting the angularity of the contact stem there is provided about the periphery of the head or casing a scale 30 divide into degrees. When the compression nut or sleeve bias been released the gear segment 20 is free to turn 4 upon the shaft 13 with the head section 2 to the new position where it is again secured by the tightening of the sleeve or not 21.-

In order that the parts may not move too freely and thereby increase the difliculty of accurate work a frictional cont-actor brake device is provided comprising a shoe 31 conforming to the exterior of the revoluble head section 2 and secured upon the shank 5 by dependent cars 32. Adjacent to the shoe 31 is a tapered screw 33 screw'threaded into the shank 5 and bearing onthe outer side of said shoe. By tightening the tapered screw 33 the friction shoe 31 is forced into contact with .the exterior surface of the revoluble headmembe'r 2 affording a slight resistance to the rotation thereof.

In addition to the adjustment to different:

radial positions of the contact stem or feeler 29 the entire head of the instrument maybe gun.

the ion 3, such adjustment being shown by otted lines in Fig. 3.

For testing the interior surface of small parts or the interior of a bore there is provided a split collar 34 Fig. 5 adapted to be enga ed uponthe extremity 35 of the sleeve 28. he collar 34 is provided with an arm 36. extending parallel with the sleeve 28 in which is pivoted a bell lever 37 having equal arms, one arm of which bears upon the extremity of the contact stem or feeler 29 While the opposite arm which is provided with a substantially spherical head 38 is adapted to enga' e the work. It is obvious that any irregu arities in the surface engaged b the side of the head 38 will cause an oscil ation of the bell lever 37 which in turn will cause a corresponding reciprocatory movement of the contact stem 29. The stem 29 is provided with a spherical head 39 for contact with the work. The spring 27 presses the contact member 29 into engagement with the surface of the work whereby the spherical head 39 will follow the variations of the surface from a com mon plane, the movement of the contact member 29 being against the tension of the spring 27. The movement of the rack 23 due to the extension of the spring 27 would also tend to move the indicator hand to the left in the various figures of the drawings. However, on account of the great accuracy re uired in an instrument of this character it is not practical to depend upon such construction because however carel'ul the respective gear members 12 and 14 may be out there will be more or less lost motion between said members whereby the indicator might respond promptly to slight variations in the contact member 29 and rack 23. To obviate this difiiculty a special hair spring 18 is provided which tends to move the indicator hand to normal and any movement of the indicator is against the tension of the spring 18. The spring 18 further holds the teeth of the gear pinion 14 in close engagement with those of the gear member 12 and thereby prevents any trim of the indicator hand which would render the reading of the indication more difficult. In other words, the spring 18 causes the indicator hand to move positively with the actuating parts. In order that the indicator hand 16 may not be subject to strain as it approaches the limit of its movement in either direction the rack 23 is limited in its movement by the engagement of the shouldered extremities thereof with the interior surfaces of the supports 26. Thus the supports 26 limit the movement of the rack in either direction and thereby limit the movement of the indicator in such relation to the work that the work will be engaged by the contact 29 or 38, ac-

cording to the nature of the piece of work to be tested. The instrument and support may be moved in a predetermined path relative to the work held in a stationary-position or the work may be caused to travel past the instrument. Any inequalities or variations in the surface of the work over which the contact passes will causea reciprocatory movement ofthe member 29 which will be transmitted to the indicatorwhich by its movement over the scale will indicate the degree of irregularity. By adjusting the contact to different angular positions as shown in Fig. 2, the instrument may be employed to test surfaces in various positions of angularit-y.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus produced an instrument of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before.

enumerated as desirable which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportion, detail construction and arrange ment of parts, without depa t ng from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention I variable indicator carried by the other supporting member indicating by its degree of movement the degree of rcciprocatory movement of the contact member, actuating connections between the contact member and indicator, said contact member being adjustable to various radial operative positions independent of the indicator by the relative rotation of the supporting members and means for'locking the supporting members one with the other, substantially as specified.

2. In a measuring instrument, two relatively rotatable supporting members movablc in parallel planes about a common axis, an actuating member operated by the irregularities of the work operated upon car ried by one supporting member, a variable indicator carried by the other supporting member intermediate connections between the actuating member and indicator whereby the indicator will be actuated by the movement of the actuating member to indi- 'cate the degree of irregularity of the work her being ra 3. In a measuring instrument, a head comprising two supporting members capable of being engaged one with the other and relatively rotatable in parallel planes when disengaged one from the other, an indicator carried by. one of the members, a movable member carried by the other member and. adapted to be actuated by its passage over irregularities in the surface of the work operated upon, actuating connect-ions between the movable member and the indicator whereby the indicator will disclose the relative degree of movement of the movable member due to the irregularities in the surface of the work,

4. In a measuring instrument, a head comprising two relatively rotatable sections capable of being engaged one with the other and rotatable in parallel planes when disengaged one from the other, an oscillatory indicator carried by one of the sections, a movable member capable of reciprocatory movement carried by the other section and adapted to be reciprocated by the irregularities in the surface of the work over which the instrument is operated intermediate actuating connections between the said movable member and the indicator whereby'a reciprocatory movement of the movable member will cause a corresponding oscillatory movement-of the indicator, said indicator and movable member being relatively adjustable to difierent operative positions in parallel planes by the relative rotation of the said head sections, substantially as speci-.

5. In a measuring instrument, a head comprising two parallel sections relatively rotatable in relation to each other in parallel planes, an indicator carried by one 'of the sections, a revoluble gear member journaled concentric with the axis of rotation of the relatively rotatable head sections, and adapted by its oscillation to actuate the indi cator, a rack member capable of reciprocatory movement carried by the other head section and meshing with said gear member 'in all positions of revoluble adjustment of the relatively rotatable head sections, and adapted by its reciprocation to oscillate the gear member to actuate the indicator, and a movable contact member adapted by its engagement with irregularities in the surface of the work operated upon to reciprocate said rack member, substantially as specified.

6. In an instrument of the character described, a casing, a movable contact member, a multiplying gear train, an indicator hand operated thereby, a drive shaft, a gear pinion loosely journaled'on said shaft,.a rack movable with said contact member and engaging said ear pinion, said contact memdially movable relative to said shaft, means to engage the gear pinion with the drive shaft whereby the gear train will marea be operated thereby, substantially as speci 7. In an instrument of the character described, a casing, a gearmember revolubly mounted in said casing, a shaftmovable w t said gear member, a car pinion with which the gear member mes es, an indicator hand carried by the gear pinion, a second gear pinion adjustably mounted on said revoluble,

shaft, a reciprocating contact member, a reciprocating rack movable therewith and engaging the adjustable gear pinion on the revoluble shaft, whereby a reciprocatory movement of the contact member will cause a corresponding movement of the indicator through an increased degree regardless of the radial direction of the reciprocatory movement, substantially as specified.

8. In an instrument of the character described, a casing, a gear member revolubly. mounted in said casing, a. shaft movable with said gear member, a gear pinion with which the gear member meshes, an indicator hand carried by the gear pinion, a second.

gear pinion revolubly adjustable on the said shaft, means for securing the pinion in its adjusted position 'on the shaft, a radially movable reciprocating contact member, a

rack movable therewith and engaging the adjustable gear pinion, whereby a reciprocatory movement of the contact member will be transmitted to. the indicator, substantially as specified.

9. Ina measuring instrument, a head divided into two relatively movable portions, a movable contact member carried by oneof the head portions, a variable indicator carried'by the other of the head parts, interme diate' connections whereby the indicator is actuated by the movement of the contact -member, a friction shoe carried on-one of the head ortions and bearing'on the other head portlon and afi'ording resistance to the free movement thereof, substantially as specified.

10. In an instrument of the character described, an oscillating indicator, an indicator scale with which the indicator cooperates, a reciprocatory contact member capable of oscillatory adjustment independent-of the indicator, the indicator scale and contact member being angularly adjustable in a subthe support, variable uonnections set my hand this 20th day 0f July, A. D. befiwein 111110 gofitaqzmeulxlllxer. 31nd indlicatior 1909."

gree o reciprocatory movement of the con- LEON FUCHS 5 tact member in all positions of adjustment Witnesses;

about its pivotal connctions. F. L. WALKER,

In testunony whereof, I have hereuntp MABEL B. CARR.

copies at this pataut my be obtained (or five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! Patents,

- Y I wmm ton, n. c." 

